Bangladesh
Bangladesh came into existence in 1971 when Bengali East Pakistan seceded from its union with West Pakistan. About a third of this extremely poor country floods annually during the monsoon rainy season, hampering economic development.

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and India
Area: 144000 sq km
Coastline: 580 km
Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm, contiguous zone: 18 nm, exclusive economic zone: 200 nm, continental shelf: up to the outer limits of the continental margin
Environment – Current issues: many people are landless and forced to live on and cultivate flood-prone land; water-borne diseases prevalent in surface water; water pollution, especially of fishing areas, results from the use of commercial pesticides; ground water contaminated by naturally occurring arsenic; intermittent water shortages because of falling water tables in the northern and central parts of the country; soil degradation and erosion; deforestation; severe overpopulation
Population: 144319628 (July 2005 est.)
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 33.1%, (male 24,590,207/ female 23,162,420), 15-64 years: 63.5% (male 46,764,824/ female 44,868,733), 65 years and over: 3.4% (male 2,650,683/ female 2,282,761) (2005 est.)


Bhutan
In 1865, Britain and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchulu, under which Bhutan would receive an annual subsidy in exchange for ceding some border land. Under British influence, a monarchy was set up in 1907; three years later, a treaty was signed whereby the British agreed not to interfere in Bhutanese internal affairs and Bhutan allowed Britain to direct its foreign affairs. This role was assumed by independent India after 1947. Two years later, a formal Indo-Bhutanese accord returned the areas of Bhutan annexed by the British, formalized the annual subsidies the country received, and defined India's responsibilities in defense and foreign relations. A refugee issue of some 100,000 Bhutanese in Nepal remains unresolved; 90% of the refugees are housed in seven United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) camps. In March 2005, King WANGCHUCK unveiled the government's draft constitution - which would introduce major democratic reforms - and pledged to hold a national referendum for its approval. A referendum date has yet to be named.

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Area: 47000 sq km
Coastline: 0 km
Maritime Claims: none (land-locked)
Environment – Current issues: soil erosion; limited access to portable water
Population: 2232291
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 39.1% (male 452,213/female 420,675), 15-64 years: 56.9% (male 654,109/female 615,431), 65 years and over: 4% (male 45,281/female 44,582) (2005 est.)


India
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5,000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest invaded about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, massive overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Area: 3287590 sq km
Coastline: 7000 km
Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm, contiguous zone: 24 nm, exclusive economic zone: 200 nm, continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Environment – Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources
Population: 1080264388 (July 2005 est.)
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 31.2% (male 173,634,432/female 163,932,475), 15-64 years: 63.9% (male 356,932,082/female 333,283,590), 65 years and over: 4.9% (male 26,542,025/female 25,939,784) (2005 est.)


Maldives
The Republic of Maldives is an island nation consisting of a group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India, about 700 kilometers south-west of Sri Lanka. The 26 atolls encompass a territory featuring 1,192 islands, roughly 200 of which are inhabited by people.

Following the introduction of Islam in 1153, the islands later became a Portuguese (1558), Dutch (1654), and British (1796) colonial possession. In 1965, Maldives declared its independence from Britain, and in 1968 the Sultanate was replaced by a Republic.

The Maldivian economy was for many centuries, entirely dependent on fishing and other marine products; therefore fishing has been and still remains the main occupation of the people. The government gives special priority to the development of the fisheries sector.

The development of tourism has fostered the overall growth of the country's economy. It has created direct and indirect employment and income generation opportunities in other related industries.

Location: Southern Asia, group of atolls in the Indian Ocean, south-southwest of India
Area: 300 sq km
Coastline: 644 km
Maritime claims: measured from claimed archipelagic straight baselines, territorial sea: 12nm, contiguous zone: 24nm, exclusive economic zone: 200nm
Environment – current issues: depletion of fresh water aquifers threatens water supplies; global warming and sea level rise; coral reef bleaching
Population: 349106 (July 2005 est.)
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 43.9%, 15-64 years: 53%, 65years and over: 3.1%


Nepal
In 1951, the Nepalese monarch ended the century-old system of rule by hereditary premiers and instituted a cabinet system of government. Reforms in 1990 established a multiparty democracy within the framework of a constitutional monarchy. A Maoist insurgency, launched in 1996, has gained traction and is threatening to bring down the regime, especially after a negotiated cease-fire between the Maoists and government forces broke down in August 2003. In 2001, the crown prince massacred ten members of the royal family, including the king and queen, and then took his own life. In October 2002, the new king dismissed the prime minister and his cabinet for "incompetence" after they dissolved the parliament and were subsequently unable to hold elections because of the ongoing insurgency. While stopping short of reestablishing parliament, the king in June 2004 reinstated the most recently elected prime minister who formed a four-party coalition government.

Location: Southern Asia, between China and India
Area: 140800 sq km
Coastline: 0 km
Maritime Claims: none (land-locked)
Environment – Current issues: deforestation (overuse of wood for fuel and lack of alternatives); contaminated water (with human and animal wastes, agricultural runoff, and industrial effluents); wildlife conservation; vehicular emissions
Population: 27676547 (July 2005 est.)
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 39% (male 5,575,157/female 5,221,794), 15-64 years: 57.3% (male 8,137,410/female 7,720,691), 65 years and over: 3.7% (male 499,039/female 522,456) (2005 est.)


Pakistan
The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved, and India and Pakistan fought two wars - in 1947-48 and 1965 - over the disputed Kashmir territory. A third war between these countries in 1971 - in which India capitalized on Islamabad's marginalization of Bengalis in Pakistani politics - resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998. The dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing, but discussions and confidence-building measures have led to decreased tensions since 2002.

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea, between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north
Area: 803940sq km
Coastline: 1046 km
Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm, contiguous zone: 24 nm, exclusive economic zone: 200 nm, continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Environment – Current issues: water pollution from raw sewage, industrial wastes, and agricultural runoff; limited natural fresh water resources; a majority of the population does not have access to potable water; deforestation; soil erosion; desertification
Population: 162419946 (July 2005 est.)
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 39.6% (male 33,104,311/female 31,244,297), 15-64 years: 56.3% (male 46,759,333/female 44,685,828), 65 years and over: 4.1% (male 3,189,122/female 3,437,055) (2005 est.)


Sri Lanka
The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-third century B.C., and a great civilization developed at the cities of Anuradhapura (kingdom from circa 200 B.C. to circa A.D. 1000) and Polonnaruwa (from about 1070 to 1200). In the 14th century, a south Indian dynasty seized power in the north and established a Tamil kingdom. Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796, became a crown colony in 1802, and was united under British rule by 1815. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; its name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972. Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted into war in 1983. Tens of thousands have died in an ethnic conflict that continues to fester. After two decades of fighting, the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam formalized a cease-fire in February 2002, with Norway brokering peace negotiations.

Location: Southern Asia, island in the Indian Ocean, south of India
Area: 65610 sq km
Coastline: 1340 km
Maritime Claims: territorial sea: 12 nm, contiguous zone: 24 nm, exclusive economic zone: 200 nm, continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Environment – Current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; wildlife populations threatened by poaching and urbanization; coastal degradation from mining activities and increased pollution; freshwater resources being polluted by industrial wastes and sewage runoff; waste disposal; air pollution in Colombo
Population: 20064776 (July 2005 est.)
Age Structure: 0-14 years: 24.5% (male 2,508,384/female 2,397,986), 15-64 years: 68.4% (male 6,658,765/female 7,059,468), 65 years and over: 7.2% (male 670,813/female 769,360) (2005 est.)